Beavers are small-to-medium-sized mammals whose range spans the eastern United States and nearly the entirety of southern Canada. They inhabit western North Carolina, building their dams in streams and rivers. While their pelts are prized, the beaver is not an endangered species. It feeds on grasses, tree bark, and shoots. -Jared
White-tailed deer are large mammals found throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America. Many different subspecies exist, but the type that inhabits western North Carolina isOdocoileus virginianusvirginianus. The white-tailed deer eats grasses, shoots, and fruits. White-tailed deer are widely hunted for their antlers and meat, but remain abundant throughout their habitat. -Jared
The eastern gray squirrel is an extremely common animal found throughout the eastern and midwestern United States, and southern and eastern Canada. They are found in forests and cities alike. These animals stereotypically eat nuts and acorns, but also eat berries and leaves. These are far from endangered, and it is difficult to be anywhere in its range without seeing one. -Jared
the woodchuck, also known as a groundhog, is a small-to-medium-sized mammal that typically consumes grasses, berries, and human crops such as corn. Its range stretches from the southeast of the United States, the eastern coast of the US and Canada, through the prairie provinces, all the way to the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Alaska. -Jared
Muskrats are mammals that live in almost all of the United States and Canada natively, and has been introduced from central Europe to the coast of China and the Korean Peninsula. The muskrat mostly eats cattails and other plants near its habitat, but has been known to eat small water creatures such as frogs, fish, and mussels. The muskrat is named for the distinctive musky smell of its body, fresh pelt, meat, and excretions. -Jared
Elk are the largest deer species in the world and were once native to the Smokey Mountains. In the past 300 years, the mammal hasbeen eliminated from the Smokey Mountains by over hunting. Eastern Elk used to inhabit most of North Carolina; but due overhunting for use of theirfur and meat, they no longer live in the Smokey Mountain range. By the beginning of the civil Elk were nonexistent in Eastern North America. Although they are native to North America, they now inhabit New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina. Elk now also populate the Rocky Mountain Range in Canada, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, and Montana. Elk are herbivores and primarily eat grasses, shrubs, and tree seedlings, as well as tree bark in the winter when no other food is available to them. -Deane
The Eastern cottontail rabbit is found in all of the eastern United States with the exception of New England. The eastern cottontail can also be found in certain parts of Arizona and New Mexico. The cottontail primarily eats grasses, fruits, clover, and green vegetables. In the winter, the rabbit also will eat the twigs and bark of oak, dogwood, birch, and maple trees. -Deane
The fox squirrel is native to North America and lives throughout the United States with the exclusion of New England. The southeastern fox squirrel inhabits the area from Texas to Florida, and the Western fox squirrel inhabits the area from the Ohio valley to Oklahoma. While the fox squirrel is mainly a primary consumer and consumes pine seeds, berries, fungi, hickory nuts, it also occasionally feeds on insects. -Deane
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly is the state insect for North Carolina. Its range spreads across the United States, except for part of Texas. The Butterfly can also be found in southern Canada. The Swallowtail feeds of the nectar from Sunflowers, butterfly bushes, petunias, and the chaste tree. -Deane
The Carolina Grasshopper or Dissosteira Carolina inhabits most of the United States excluding southern Florida, Louisiana, and California. The Grasshopper mainly eats grasses, horsetails, and different types of forbs. -Deane
The Gray Fox can be found from southern Canada to northern Columbia and Venezuela. The fox lives in brush and woods, but can live in a variety of places. It is a hunter, but eats corn, apples, nuts, berries, and grass. DEANNE
A raccoon can live anywhere in North America: forests, marshes, prairies, and even cities. They don't really care about their environment, just as long as it's livable and has food. They eat anything as well: trash, fruit, animal and insect eggs, and plants. DEANNE
The endangered Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel is a subspecies of the northern flying squirrel. Flying squirrels are nocturnal and have large eyes to help them see at night. They are found on mountains in southwest Virginia, western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. They make nests of Yellow birch bark in holes of trees. They live in warm, moist habitats. They eat fungi, lichens, fruits, and nuts. DEANNE
Box turtles are found in most of North America and live near streams. They eat leaves, fruit, insects, plants, and basically anything they can catch. DEANNE
Wild turkeys live in forests or meadows or almost anywhere in North America. Wild turkeys eat acorns, seeds, small insects, wild berries, and grass. DEANNE
"Western Gray Squirrels and Other Squirrels of Washington | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife." Western Gray Squirrels and Other Squirrels of Washington | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_squirrel/>.
The endangered Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel is a subspecies of the northern flying squirrel. Flying squirrels are nocturnal and have large eyes to help them see at night. They are found on mountains in southwest Virginia, western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. They make nests of Yellow birch bark in holes of trees. They live in warm, moist habitats. They eat fungi, lichens, fruits, and nuts. DEANNE
Works Cited:
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"Eastern Cottontail." Eastern Cottontail. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012.
<http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_cottontail.htm>.
"Western Gray Squirrels and Other Squirrels of Washington | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife." Western Gray Squirrels and Other Squirrels of Washington | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_squirrel/>.
"Eastern Tiger Swallowtail." Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_tiger_swallowtail.htm>.
"Grasshoppers, Katydids, & Crickets." Grasshoppers, Katydids, & Crickets. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.harpercollege.edu/ls-hs/bio/dept/guide/gallery/grasshoppers_crickets/thumb.html>.
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<http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/wild-turkey/
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<http://www.fws.gov/raleigh/species/es_northern_flying_squirrel.html>.
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<http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/raccoon/>
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<www.nhptv.org/natureworks/grayfox.htm
Western North Carolina Nature Center. N.p.,n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2012
<www.wncnaturecenter.com>
"Hopping Down the Appalachian Trail." Wikipedia. N.p., 5 July 2008. Web. 30 Sept. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sylvilagus_obscurus_3.jpg>.